Saturday, February 2, 2013

Homegrown Muslim-American Terrorism Down Third Straight YearThe number of homegrown terrorism incidents by Muslim-Americans has dropped for the third consecutive year, a study released Friday by the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security has found.

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 2/1/13) -- The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate a possible bias motive for an alleged drive-by shooting attack last night on a Muslim family's home in Oklahoma City.

CAIR-OK said a Muslim family of Iranian origin reported that multiple shots from an apparently high-caliber weapon or weapons hit the walls and windows of their home just after 8 p.m. last night. The attack occurred just days after the family's son was approached by an individual who asked him about his religion.

A sign in front of the family's home shows a mosque and an Arabic inscription of the Muslim greeting "as-salaamu alaykum," or "peace be to you."

No one was hurt in the shooting and police are investigating. CAIR-OK has contacted the Oklahoma City Police Department's Criminal Intent Unit and asked for a hate crime investigation.

"Any time the home of a family belonging to an ethnic or religious minority is attacked in a potentially deadly manner, it is only prudent to investigate a possible bias motive," saidCAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani.

Soltani said this incident comes following a rise in hate attacks targeting American Muslims and their institutions in the second half of 2012.

Just this week, CAIR's Texas chapter welcomed stepped-up protection for Muslims taking part in yesterday's "Texas Muslim Capitol Day" at the state Capitol in Austin. Apparent threats targeting the event had been made on a notorious anti-Islam hate blog.